Grand Central interior at night.

Melrose Arch, Amdec Property Development’s mixed-use Johannesburg precinct, was recognised for its excellence in design at the annual South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) 2009 Spectrum Awards.

The recently opened Melrose Arch Piazza was a finalist in the SACSC Retail Design and Development Awards for design of a shopping centre larger than 15 000 m2, and Melrose Arch’s Grand Central Restaurant scooped the Spectrum Award for best designed store or restaurant in South Africa.

Melrose Arch is owned by Cape-based Amdec and the Melrose Arch Piazza was designed by dhk Architects and Boogertman and Partners. Grand Central is co-owned by Nick Kiros, Claudio Costa and Nick Mousios. Claudio Costa and Ben Dos Reis, from Refined Existence in Space architectural firm, were involved in developing the space planning layouts and engineering drawings for the project, and dhkthinkspace worked closely with the owners of Grand Central on the interior design of the restaurant.

The Spectrum Awards honour innovation, creativity, vision and excellence, and the design category celebrates exceptional creative distinction and brilliance within the design and development industry.

Amdec chief executive, James Wilson, says the Piazza was inspired by some of the world’s most memorable piazzas and international high street shopping venues. Its architectural interpretation brings to life the vibrant tone which was intended in its design brief.

“Grand Central was based on the ‘Big Apple’ concept,” says Kiros. “The vision was to offer a subway-meets-New-York-brasserie theme – big, bold and the place to see and be seen. The interior design is the source from which the electric urban energy of the restaurant originates, and it is one of the special ingredients that has made Grand Central so popular with patrons.”

Derek Henstra, of dhkthinkspace and dhk architects, was behind both awards.